Hebe plant named ‘Champseiont’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Hebe plant named ‘Champseiont’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; freely branching growth habit; and small dark green-colored foliage that becomes purple in color during the winter.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Hebe hybrida cultivarChampseiont.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hebeplant, botanically known as Hebe hybrida, and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Champseiont’.

The new Hebe was discovered by the Inventor in 1995 in a controlledenvironment in Gwynedd, United Kingdom, as a naturally-occurring wholeplant mutation of the Hebe hybrida cultivar Autumn Glory, not patented.The new Hebe was selected by the Inventor on the basis of its small darkgreen-colored leaves.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hebe by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Gwynedd, United Kingdom, since 1995, has shown that theunique features of this new Hebe are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Champseiont have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Champseiont’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Champseiont’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form.

2. Freely branching growth habit.

3. Small dark green-colored foliage that becomes purple in color duringthe winter.

Plants of the cultivar Champseiont are most similar to plants of theparent, the cultivar Autumn Glory. However, in side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Gwynedd, United Kingdom, plants of the new Hebe differedfrom plants of the cultivar Autumn Glory in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Hebe had smaller leaves than plants of the cultivarAutumn Glory.

2. Plants of the new Hebe had darker green-colored leaves than plants ofthe cultivar Autumn Glory.

3. Plants of the new Hebe were more resistant to pathogens common toHebe than plants of the cultivar Autumn Glory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hebe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hebe.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Champseiont’ grown in a container.

The photographs at the bottom of the sheet are close-up views of typicalleaves of ‘Champseiont’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thephotographs and the following description were about one year old andgrown under outdoor field conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 6 to 15° C. andnight temperatures ranged from 2 to 8° C. The photographs anddescription were taken in March, 2003.

Botanical classification: Hebe hybrida cultivar Champseiont.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Hebe hybridacultivar Autumn Glory, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 14 days at 25° C. Winter: About 70days at 15° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 120 days at 25° C.Winter: About 240 days at 25° C.

Root description.—Fibrous.

Plant description:

Form.—Evergreen shrub; compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreadingand flattened globular plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit.

Plant height.—About 15 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 13 cm.

Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About ten; pinching is notrequired, but will improve branching. Length: About 6.7 cm. Diameter:About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.Texture: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: 187A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile. Length:About 1.4 cm. Width: About 0.7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Mucronulate.Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:Somewhat leathery, thick; smooth, glabrous; glossy. Venation pattern:Pinnate. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developingfoliage, lower surface: N186C; towards the apex, 147A. Fully expandedfoliage, upper surface: Between 137A and 139A; color becoming morepurple, close to 187A to N186C during the winter. Fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 137B to 137C; towards the base, 187A. Venation,upper surface: Midrib, 138A; lateral veins not visible. Venation, lowersurface: Midrib, 183C; lateral veins not visible.

Flower description: Flower development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hebe have not been noted tobe resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hebe.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hebe are hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone8 and have been observed to tolerate temperatures as high as 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hebe plant named‘Champseiont’, as illustrated and described.